HALIFAX—The remnants of a waning post-tropical storm Arthur were moving across Newfoundland on Sunday as an official at the Canadian Hurricane Centre said the worst was over for Atlantic Canada.

Environment Canada lifted all storm warnings over land in the Atlantic region in the wake of the potent storm, which brought with it near-hurricane strength winds and torrential rains across the Maritimes.

“The storm has weakened significantly from 12 hours ago,” said Chris Fogarty, manager of Canada’s Halifax-based hurricane centre. “Most of the impacts are over, with just a few heavy showers lingering in Newfoundland. They do have some gusty winds there, but nothing like we saw yesterday.”

Forecasters predicted strong winds of up to 70 kilometres an hour would linger around Cape Breton on Sunday, but only five-to-10 millimetres of rainfall was expected for Newfoundland, concentrated mostly on the Avalon Peninsula.

Catherine Tutton
/ THE CANADIAN PRESS

Dartmouth, N.S. residents examine a tree that has toppled onto power lines by tropical storm Arthur on Saturday.

Environment Canada downgraded the weather system from hurricane status right before it slammed into the Maritimes on Saturday morning, but the storm still packed a punch, drenching parts of New Brunswick, toppling trees and knocking out power for more than a quarter-million people at its peak intensity.

Fogarty noted that while downgrading a hurricane to a post-tropical storm may mean a decrease in the most extreme wind and rain conditions, the transformation often significantly expands the overall area affected by the storm and can often mean an increase in its total energy.

New Brunswick experienced the most severe rainfall and localized flooding, including the southwest town of St. Stephen, which by Sunday morning was soaked with more than 140 millimetres of rain.

Crews set to work on Sunday to restore power to nearly 140,000 customers in New Brunswick, and more than 90,000 in Nova Scotia. P.E.I.’s power utility estimates nearly 5,000 customers are in the dark on the Island.

Most customers were informed it could be as long as two days before they are reconnected, with an unlucky few told they may not have power until Wednesday.

Fredericton was one of the hardest-hit areas, with more than one third of the province’s blackouts occurring in the greater municipal area.

The city’s head of public safety Wayne Tallon estimated around 2,000 trees were either down or damaged in the area and that cleanup could take as long as three weeks.

But despite the devastation, Tallon said residents were in positive spirits.

“So far I can’t be more pleased with the residents of the city,” he said. “They’ve been very co-operative with us and very patient.”

His sentiments were shared by longtime resident Marilyn Kaufman, who said the city was in cleanup mode, with the sound of chainsaws and repair crews heard throughout the streets.

“Neighbour helping neighbour . . . that’s basically the epitome of the Frederictonians,” said the retired teacher, who by Sunday afternoon had been without power for 24 hours.

Besides downed brush and power lines obstructing the roadways, Kaufman said moving around the city was further complicated by lengthy rows of vehicles lined up at various gas stations.

On Sunday, several New Brunswick municipalities opened reception centres to allow residents without power a chance to charge their phones and other electronics. Charging stations are located in Fredericton, Quispamsis, Oromocto and Grand Bay-Westfield.

Bridgewater, N.S., also opened a recharge station for affected residents.

The storm’s centre is expected to move into the open Atlantic by late Sunday, but its dwindling effects will continue to be felt in Newfoundland overnight.

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